Portable, self-contained toilet

ABSTRACT

A self-contained, portable toilet that has a seat section and a holding tank section. The seat section includes an upper rim, a lower base wall and a bowl portion extending downwardly of the rim to a drain through the base wall. At the point where the drain penetrates the base wall a socket is recessed upwardly into the base wall. A flush valve assembly is demountably secured to the holding tank section, and a thimble on the valve assembly is insertably receivable within the socket. A valve element in the form of a partial sphere is mounted in the valve assembly to control communication between the bowl portion and the interior of the holding tank section. The valve element is selectively opened and closed by rotation of a handle which is fittedly received within a recess in the toilet when the valve is closed and which requires translation outwardly of the recess before it can be rotated in order to preclude inadvertent opening of the valve. A horizontally spiraled distribution ledge circumscribes the bowl portion and receives a distributing tube having a plurality of circumferentially spaced discharged orifices for emitting flush fluid in directions and at locations most propitiously to clean the bowl.

llnited States Patent [19] Winner et al.

1 Dec.3,1974

[ PORTABLE, SELF-CONTAINED TOILET [75] Inventors: Vaughn D.- Flinner,Prairie; Richard W. Sprang, Lakeville; Dana D. Zody; Howard A. Fulton,both of Perrysville, all of Ohio [73] Assignee: Mansfield Sanitary 1nc.,Perrysville,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 408,664

[52] U.S. Cl 4/115, 4/10, 4/76 [51] int. Cl... A47k 11/02, E03d 5/016,A611 11/00 [58] Field of Search ..4/10,ll5, 116,111,114,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,418,664 12/1968 Carmichaelet al 4/115 3,570,018 3/1971 Sargent et a1 4/115 3,577,569 5/1971Sargent et al 4/79 3,609,772 10/1971 Howard 4/115 3,611,446 10/1971Howard 4/115 3,713,177 l/l973 Tufts et a1 4/115 X 3,747,130 7/1973Sargent et al 4/10 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Hamilton, Renner & Kenner 5 7] ABSTRACT A self-contained, portabletoilet that has a seat section and a holding tank section. The seatsection includes an upper rim, a lower base wall and a bowl portionextending downwardly of the rim to a drain through the base wall. At thepoint where the drain penetrates the base wall a socket is recessedupwardly into the base wall. A flush valve assembly is demountablysecured to the holding tank section, and a thimble .on the valveassembly is insertably receivable within the socket. A valve element inthe form of a partial sphere is mounted in the valve assembly to controlcommunication between the bowl portion and the interior of the holdingtank section. The valve element is selectively opened and closed byrotation of a handle which is fittedly received within a recess in thetoilet when the valve is closed and which requires translation outwardlyof the recess before it can be rotated in order to preclude inadvertentopening of the valve. A horizontally spiraled distribution ledgecircumscribes the bowl portion and receives a distributing tube having aplurality of circumferentially spaced discharged orifices for emittingflush fluid in directions and at locations most propitiously to cleanthe bowl.

13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTELUEB 3W 3.851 333 SHEET 2 BF 5 bmumPATENTE; 559 31974 SHEET 5 BF 5 p l PORTABLE, SELF-CONTAINED TOILETBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to portabletoilets, and particularly to portable toilets that incorporate aselfcontained flush fluid reservoir and a detachable holding tanksection that is constructed to permit convenient transportation andevacuation.

We believethat one of the best prior known arrangements is thatdisclosed in our copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 310,557,filed on Nov. 29, 1972 and now US. Pat. No. 3,801,991. The aforesaidcopending application discloses the use of a slide valve selectively toopen and close the passageway between the bowl and the interior of theholding tank section. While a slide valve is wholly operative for usewith a portable toilet, it has been found that a modified valve andthimble arrangement offers even greater advantages.

In order to effect a vortical flow to the flush fluid en tering the bowlof a portable toilet a host of complicated physical arrangements haveheretofore been employed. It has also been found that a modified flushfluid feed arrangement can effect the vortical flow desired and alsomore evenly distribute the introduction of the flush fluid around theperiphery of the bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the primary object of thepresent invention to provide a portable toilet construction whicheliminates the recessed guides required by a slide valve, and withinwhich contaminants can accumulate, and which employs a valve means thatcan be maintained more readily sanitary.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portabletoilet construction, as above, in which the seal of the valve meansitself as well as the seal and the connection between the seat section,the valve assembly and the holding tank section is more efficientlyachieved.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aportable toilet construction, as above, in which the valve means closingthe passage between the bowl and the interior of the holding tanksection 'isrestrained against inadvertently opening both when the seatand holding tank sections are conjoined or separated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portabletoilet construction, as above, in which the valve means can be readilyreplaced in the field.

It is an even further object of the present invention to provide aportable toilet construction, as above, in which the introduction of theflush fluid can be effected in such a way as to introduce the flushfluid more uniformly around the periphery of the bowl and at the sametime provide the desired vertical flow down and around the bowl.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide aportable toilet construction, as above, that is even less expensive tomanufacture and maintain than prior known constructions.

These and other objects, together with the advantages thereof overexisting and prior art forms which will become apparent from thefollowing specification, are accomplished by means hereinafter describedand claimed.

In general, a portable toilet embodying the concept of the presentinvention has a seat section and a holding tank section with a valveassembly secured therebetween. The valve assembly is demountably securedto an inlet port in the holding tank section and presents a thimblewhich extends outwardly and upwardly away from the holding tank section.

The seat section has a bowl that converges downwardly to a drain, andthe drain incorporates a socket into which the thimble on the flushvalve assembly is insertably received. Clamp means are employed tosecure the seat and holding tank sections together with the aforesaidthimble and socket interfitted. A such, a passageway through the thimbleand housing of the flush valve assembly provides direct communicationbetween the drain in the bowl portion of the seat section and theinterior of the holding tank section.

A valve element selectively opens and closes the passageway, and theimproved valve element comprises a portion of a sphere that is rotatablymounted within the valve housing. A handle is operatively connected tothe spherical valve element so that rotation of the handle rotates thevalve element to open and close the passageway. The handle is receivedwithin a recess in at least one of the toilet sections when the valve isclosed, and the recess so embraces the handle that it cannot be rotateduntil it is first translated out of the confines of the recess therebyobviating inadvertent opening of the valve element. If the holding tanksection presents the recess, or a portion thereof, into which the handlemay be so confined, the valve cannot be inadvertently opened even whenthe holding tank section is being transported independently of the seatsection.

The seat section has a horizontally spiraleddistribution ledge thatcircumscribes the bowl portion thereof, and a distribution tube directsflush fluid onto the distribution ledge by at least two dischargeorifices dis posed in circumferentially spaced relation with respect tothe bowl, the discharge orifices being particularly oriented to effect arelatively uniform distribution to the entry of the flush fluid into thebowl portion.

One preferred embodiment of a portable toilet embodying the concept ofthe present invention is shown by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings and described in detail without attempting to show all of thevarious forms and modifications in which the invention might beembodied; the invention being measured by the appended claims and not bythe details of the specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a frontal-side perspective of aportable toilet embodying the concept of the present invention, saidview being exploded toshow the seat section vertically separated fromthe holding tank section;

. FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical section taken substantially along line2-2 of FIG. 1 and depicting the interrelationship of the flush valveassembly with both the seat and holding tank sections when thosesections are conjoined and not vertically exploded as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged area of FIG. 2 depicting theinterconnection between the flush valve assembly, the seat section andholding tank section as well as the internal mechanism of the flushvalve assembly, all in vertical cross section;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially along line 4-4 ofFIG. 3 to depict the relationship of the spindle on the valve elementwith the extension shaft within the valve assembly guide;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section through the valve element takensubstantially along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, vertical cross section through a portion of theseat section and taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a reduced view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 todepict the cover ring, flush distribution ledge and a portion of theflush feed tube in top plan but broken away to depict the drop wall ofthe seat section and the juxtaposed locating flange of the cover ring inhorizontal section; and,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged area of FIG. 7 with a portion of the flush feedtube represented in horizontal section.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT concept disclosed in the aforesaidcopending application, Ser. No. 310,557 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,991.

Both sections may be conveniently blow molded from a durable plasticmaterial such as high density polyethylene to provide a hollowconstruction. As such, the interior of the seat section 21 defines acavity 24 (FIG. 2) that serves as a reservoir for the flush fluid. Theuppermost wall of the seat section 21 constitutes a peripheral rim 25the inner edge of which is joined to a horizontal flush fluiddistribution ledge 26 (FIGS. 2, 6, 7 and 8) spaced uniformlybelow therim 25 and joined thereto by a generally vertical drop wall 28. From theradially inner edge of the distribution ledge 26 a wall 29 convergesdownwardly in the general configuration of a bowl 30 and terminates at adrain 31.

From the outermost edge of the rim 25 the four exterior walls front wall32A, side wall 328, rear wall 32C and side wall 32D slope downwardly,and, in part, moderately outwardly, in an aesthetically pleasingconfiguration to join the horizontal base wall 33 which extends radiallyinwardly and then generally upwardly from all four side walls toconverge at the drain 31. In conjunction with, and concentrically of,the drain 3] an annular recess in the form of a socket 34 is directedupwardly from the base wall 33 and terminates in a horizontal ledge 35the radially inner edge 36 of which delineates the circumference of thedrain 31 and the upwardly directed surface of which constitutes thatportion of the wall 29 which circumscribes the drain 31 at the lowerterminus of the bowl 30. The recess 34 serves a purpose more fullyhereinafter explained.

A cover ring 40 may be demountably secured to the seat section 21 by aplurality of screws 41 that engage a corresponding number of T-nutsembedded within the peripheral rim 25. The configuration of the coverring itself as well as the configuration of the seat, lid and othercomponents supported therefrom may conform to those disclosed in ouraforesaid application Ser. No. 3l0,557 now U.S. Pat. No; 3,801,991.

The distribution ledge 26 is at its widest where the flexible flushfluid feed tube 45 passes through the offset wall 46 (FIGS. 7 and 8)which accommodates the radial discontinuity effected by the spiralconfiguration of the drop wall 28. As is also shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,

the cover ring 40 presents a vertically oriented, substantially spirallocating flange 44 that is frictionally received against thecorresponding configuration of the drop wall 28 to position andstabilize the cover ring 40. Flange 44 similarly presents an offset wall46A that is juxtaposed to offset wall 46 in drop wall 28. Theprogressive narrowing of the distribution ledge 26 resulting from theaforesaid spiral configuration of the drop wall 28 and locating flange44 in combination with the bifurcated discharge of an improved feed tube45 effects a more uniform cleansing of the bowl 30 with the minimumvolume of flush fluid.

Specifically, the feed tube 45 comprises a conduit portion 48 leadingfrom the flush pump 49 (schematically depicted in FIG. 6 although apreferred embodiment of which is disclosed in our aforesaid copendingapplication, Ser. No. 310,557 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,99), across thereservoir cavity 24 and through the offset walls 46 and 46A. A modestannular indentation 50 in the outer surface of the feed tube 45, and atthe end of the conduit portion 48 most remote from the pump 49, isengaged by the circular edges 51 and 51A of the passageway through theoffset walls 46 and 46A, respectively, to maintain the feed tube 45positioned with respect thereto.

An orienting portion 51B of the feed tube 45 extends for several inchesbeyond the indentation 50 (at preferably somewhat reduced diameter) toassure the desired disposition of the discharge. That is, the orientingportion 518 allows for a smooth transition between the inclineddisposition of the conduit portion 48 of feed tube 45 as it passesthrough the reservoir cavity 24 and the preferably horizontaldisposition desired for the discharge portion of the feed tube 45 as itlies along the distribution ledge 26.

As shown in FIG. 8, at the outer extremity of the orienting portion 51Bthe single passageway 52 therein (which constitutes a continuation ofthe same passageway within the conduit portion 48) divides into twopassageways 53 and 54. Passageway 53 is contained within a tubularportion 55 and is of approximately one-half the diameter of, and extendsforwardly from, passageway 52 along an axis 56 generally parallel andoffset with respect to the axis 58 of passageway 52. The tubular portion55 extends approximately one-quarter of the way around ledge 26 andterminates in a discharge orifice 59.

Passageway 54 diverges from passageway 52 at an angle of approximatelyten degrees inwardly with respect to a tangent to axis 58 which liesalong the distribution ledge 26, and opens in relatively close proximityto the end of the orienting portion 51B. The passageway 54 is alsoapproximately one-half the diameter of passageway 52 and terminates in adischarge orifice 60.

With the foregoing configuration the flush fluid eminating fromdischarge orifice 60 may be directed radially inwardly along the ledge26 at an oblique angle, and the flush fluid eminating from orifice 59may be directed circumferentially along the ledge 26. The horizontaldisposition of the distribution ledge 26 allows the circumferentialcomponent of the discharge to impart a circumferentially oriented flowvector to the flush fluid. At the same time, the progressivelydiminishing radial dimension of the ledge 26 in combination with theradial component of the discharge from orifice 59 combines to distributethe spill over of flush fluid from ledge 26 rather uniformly around theperiphery of I the bowl 30. As the flush fluid spills over the ledge 26gravity imparts a vertical flow vector which combines with thecircumferential flow vector to impart a vortical flow pattern to theflush fluid as it courses progressively downwardly and around bowl 30 tothe drain 31, thereby most effectively cleaning the bowl.

Turning now to a brief consideration of the holding tank section 22, itis also a hollow construction bounded by a base wall 61, an upper wall62 in vertically spaced, parallel relation to the base wall 61 and fourexterior walls front wall 63A, side wall 63B, rear wall 63C and sidewall 63D. An inlet port 64 is provided in the upper wall 62 of the tanksection 22. A collar 65 circumscribes that inlet port 64 and extendsinwardly from the upper wall 62. The radially innermost surface of thecollar 65 presents a cylindrical sealing wall 66 at the uppermost extentthereof. At the lowermost extremity of the sealing wall 66 a section ofreduced internal diameter presents thread means 68 that extend radiallyinwardly with respect to the cylindrical sealing wall 66. In general,the details of the holding tank section 22 may satisfactorilyincorporate those of the holding tank section disclosed in our copendingU.S. application Ser. No. 310,557 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,991.

A unique valve assembly 70 is provided to open and close the inlet port64 in the upper wall 62 of the seat section, and the housing 71 of thevalve assembly 70 cooperatively interacts with the collar 65 to permitfacile mounting and demounting of the valve assembly 70. Specifically,an annular neck 72 extends downwardly from the housing 71 and isremovably received within the collar 65.

The upper portion 73 of the neck 72 has an outer diameter thatapproximates the inner diameter of the sealing wall 66 so thatengagement of the wall 66 by an O-ring 74 received within an annulargroove 75 in the upper portion 73 of the neck 72 effects a gas andliquid tight seal therebetween.

The lower portion 76 of the neck 72 is of lesser diameter than the upperportion 73 and presents thread means 78 that extend radially outwardlythereof to engage the thread means 68 on collar 65. The thread means 68and 78 are designed to effect a mounting and demounting of the valveassembly 70 in preferably less than one revolution andat the same timeinteract to effect a tightly wedged seal between the neck 72 and collar65. The details of the thread construction by which this result isobtained are also disclosed in our copending application, Ser. No.310,557 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,991.

The thimble portion 80 of the housing 71 extends upwardly and isremovably receivable within the annularly recessed socket 34 provided inthe base wall 33 of the seat section 21. In fact, the outer diameter ofthe thimble 80 is preferably of such dimension that it closelyapproximates the inner diameter of the annular recess 34. Near the upperextent of the thimble 80 an annular groove 81 is provided on theradially outer wall 82 to receive an O-ring 83 for effecting a gas andliquid seal between the thimble portion 80 and the recess 34 in the seatsection 21 when the seat and holding tank sections 21 and 22,respectively, are conjoined as assembly 20.

As best seen in FlGf3 the groove 81 may be formed between a shoulder 84on the axially uppermost extent of the thimble and a first, radiallyoutwardly directed flange 85 of retainer ring 86. The retainer ring 86has a generally T-shaped cross section with the upright portion thereofcomprising an axially oriented, annular skirt 88 that embraces thecylindrical wall 89 of the thimble 80 that extends axially upwardly fromthe base of shoulder 84. A suitable adhesive means is preferablyinterposed between the skirt 88 and wall 89 to maintain the retainerring 86 suitably positioned on the housing 71.

The retainer ring 86 has a second, radially inwardly directed flange 90which cooperates with the thimble 80 to retain a drain valve seal 91.The radially inner side at the axially uppermost extremity of thethimble 80 is recessed, as at 92, to present an axially extending,annular, anchor rib 93 located medially of the outer wall 94 of recess92 and the cavity 95 within the housing 71 which opens upwardly throughthe upper extremity of the thimble 80 as well as downwardly through thelower extremity of neck 72. The anchor rib 93 is received in acorresponding annular channel 96 in the body portion 98 of the drainseal 91. The location of the second flange 90 in spaced opposition tothe anchor rib 93 precludes the seal 91 from being inadvertentlyremoved, and the axially underside of the flange 90 is stepped, as at99, to afford the fullest backing support to the seal withoutunnecessarily reducing the thickness of the material forming the seal atany point.

The seal 91 presents a plurality of, preferably four, annular beads 100that engage the surface of the valve element 101 in spaced relation toeffect a seal thereagainst. The valve element 101 is a spherical segmentthat may be satisfactorily made of a solvent resistant plastic. Thevalve element 101 must have sufficient area to engage the annular beads100 and close the opening i.e., drain 31 to the cavity 95, said openingbeing delineated by the seal 91.

The spherical valve element 101 is selectively rotatable on one of itsdiametric axes and suitable rotation can be effected by providing atrunnion 103 that extends outwardly from one side of the valve element101 to be rotatably received within a bearing boss 104 located betweenthe collar 65 and thimble 80 of the valve housing 71.

Diametrically opposed to the trunnion 103 the valve element 101 presentsa means for connecting the valve element 101 to a rotatable drive block105. As best shown in FlG. 5, the valve element 101 may present a pairof spaced legs 106 and 108 that embrace the block 105, and a screw 109may extend through the block 105 medially of the legs 106 and 108 toengage a nut fixed within the valve element. The foregoing arrangementallows for selective rotation of the valve element 101 and also permitsthe valve element to be re placed with considerable ease.

Further to facilitate changing the valve element 101 an opposed pair ofindentations 111 and 112 are provided on the radially outer surface, oneadjacent to trunnion 103 and the second adjacent the spaced legs 106 and108. To remove the valve element 101 the screw 109 is disengaged fromnut 110 while the valve element is in the closed position, the valveelement is then rotated and by engaging the indentations 111 and 112with the thumb and an opposed finger extending into the cavity 95through collar 65, the valve element may be sufficiently flexed bypitching the thumb and opposed finger together to rotate the legs 106and 108 away from the block 105 and outwardly from the cavity 95. Thetrunnion 103 can thereby be extricated from the bearing boss 104 and thevalve elements removed. The same valve element, or a replacement, can beeasily inserted by reversing the aforedescribed process.

It should be noted that the indentation 112 also provides a space intowhich that portion of the screw 109 threaded beyond nut 110 may extend.

when the block 105 is engaged by legs 106 and 108 the valve element 101can be rotated, as desired, by manipulation of a handle 115 (FIG. 3)readily accessible from exteriorily of the toilet assembly 20. In theembodiment depicted the handle is located at the front of the assemblyand is normally nested between the front wall 32A of the seat section 21and the front wall 63A of the holding tank section 22. In fact, thefront wall 32A has a recess 116 and the front wall 63A has an opposedrecess 118 to accommodate the handle 115 so that the outermost surface119 thereon can remain flush with the walls 32A and 63A.

The block 105 is carried on a spindle 120 that extends through a boss121 located in the housing 71 between the neck 72 and the thimble 80.The journaled portion 122 of the spindle 120 within the boss 121 iscylindrical and is, therefore, rotatable within the boss 121 whichserves as a bearing. To effect a liquid seal it is desirable that anannular recess 123 be provided in the journal portion 122 to receive anO-ring, or other suitable seal means, 124.

Radially outwardly of the boss 121 the cross section of the spindle 120is such as to effect a rotatable driving connection between the spindleand an extension shaft 125 while allowing the two elements to moveaxially of each other. As shown in FIG. 4, the square cross sectioncomprising the driving portion 126 of the spindle 120 which is matinglyreceived within a square bore 127 in the extension shaft 125 effects thedesired result.

The driving portion 126 of the spindle 120 and a portion of theextension shaft 125 are enclosed within a guide 128 that extendsoutwardly from the value housing 71 and terminates in an end wall 129through which the outboard portion 130 of the extension shaft 125protrudes.

A biasing means in the form of a compression spring 131 circumscribesthe extension shaft 125 and acts to urge it toward its innermostposition. This result may be accomplished by positioning the spring 131between the end wall 129 and a shoulder 132 provided on the exterior ofthe extension shaft 125.

The handle 115 is secured to the outboard endportion of the extensionshaft 125. As shown, the shank 133 of the handle is receivable over theoutboard portion 130 of the extension shaft 125 and non-rotatablysecured thereto. For example, the base of the shank 133 may present asquare socket 134 into which the squared end 135 of the outboard portion130 is received. The handle 115 may be fastened to the extension shaft125 by virtue of a U-shaped spring clip 136 that snaps behind the head138 on the stiffening rod 139 anchored within at least the outboardportion of the extension shaft 125.

The biasing pressure applied by spring 131 normally maintains the handle115 within the opposed recess 116 and 118, and the combinedconfiguration of those recesses in such that when the handle 115 isconfined therebetween it cannot be rotated although a person may extendhis fingers through recess 118 so as to be able to grasp the handle.

When the handle 115 is confined within the recesses 116 and 118 thevalve element 101 is in its closed position. That is, the sphericalvalve element 101 is positioned fully across drain 31 and is engaged bythe annular beads of seal 91. In this position communication between thedrain 31 in bowl 30 and the interior of the holding tank section 22 isprecluded.

To effect communication, and thereby transfer the contents of the bowl30 into the holding tank section 22, one must grasp the handle andtranslate it axially outwardly beyond the influence of the recesses 116and 118. This axial translation of the handle 115 against the biasingaction of spring 131 causes the extension shaft to slide axially alongthe driving portion 126 of the spindle 120. But even when the handle istranslated to its outermost position the extension shaft 125 remains indriving contact with the spindle 120 so that rotation of the outwardlydisplaced handle 115 effects rotation of the valve element 101.

After translating the handle to its outer position it is rotated throughapproximately 90 to align the diametrically opposed, semi-circularopenings 140 and 141 in the valve element 101 with the drain 31 in orderto allow the contents of the bowl 30 to pass through the drain 31,through the cavity 95 in the housing 71 of the valve assembly 70 andinto the holding tank section 22.

Although it has heretofore been explained that the cooperativeinteraction of the handle 115 with the opposed recesses 116 and 118precludes inadvertent opening of the valve assembly 70 when the seat andholding tank sections 21 and 22, respectively, are assembled, it shouldalso be appreciated that the recess 118 in wall 63A of the holding tanksection 22 will itself preclude rotation of the handle 115 unless thehandle has been first translated to its fully outermost position. Thisway one is not inconvenienced by having the valve element 101inadvertently open while the holding tank section 22 is beingtransported independently of the seat section 21.

It should also be appreciated that the subject configuration permits thethimble to be of larger diameter without impairing the operation of thevalve element or the seal therearound and also permits a sufficientpenetration of the larger diameter thimble portion 80 within therecessed socket 34 that a fairly stable connection can be effectedbetween the seat and holding tank sections 21 and 22, respectively,which holding clamps 23 such as those disclosed in our aforesaidcopending U.S. application Ser. No. 3l0,557 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,991need merely maintain. In fact, the particular configuration depicted inthe preferred embodiment can easily afford a thimble portion 80 ofapproximately four inches in diameter which penetrates the socket 34 atleast three-quarters of an inch. This provides a very stableinterconnection with sufiicient interface area to permit the use of anO-ring 83 of sufficient cross sectional diameter to obviate any leakageof liquids or gas between the thimble portion and the socket in which itWe claim:

1. A portable toilet comprising; a seat section and a holding tanksection, said holding tank section having an inlet port, a flush valvehousing, means to fasten said flush valve housing to said inlet port, athimble formed on said valve housing and extending oppositely of saidholding tank section, a passageway extending through said valve housingand thimble, a valve element comprising a portion of a sphere mountedfor rotation within said thimble, means to rotate said valve elementselectively to open and close said passageway, said seat section havinga bowl portion that converges downwardly to a drain, a socketcircumscribing said drain, the thimble presented from said valve housingbeing insertably receivable within said socket and means to effect aseal between said thimble and said socket.

2. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim l, in which a handle isoperatively connected to said spherical valve element such that rotationof said handle rotates said valve element and means are provided topreclude inadvertent rotation of said handle.

3. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 2, in which a recess isprovided in at least one separable section of said toilet, said handlebeing normally confined against rotation within said recess and meansbeing provided to displace said handle outwardly of said recess forunrestricted rotation of said handle.

4. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 3, in which the means todisplace said handle comprise, a spindle secured to said spherical valveelement, an extension shaft, means to effect a rotatable drivingconnection between said spindle and extension shaft while allowing thespindle and extension shaft to move axially of each other, said handlebeing fastened to said extension shaft.

5. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 4, in which means areprovided to bias said extension shaft in that direction along saidspindle which retains said handle within the said recess.

6. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which said sphericalvalve element has a diametric axis, a trunnion extending outwardly onone side of said valve element along said diametric axis and beingrotatably received within said valve housing, means on said valveelement diametrically opposed to said trunnion for selective connectionto the means for rotating said spherical valve element.

7. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 6, in which a pair ofindentations are provided in said spherical valve element in proximityto said diametric axis in order to facilitate removal and insertion ofthe valve element with respect to the valve housing.

8. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which an annular drainseal is retained within said thimble for engaging said spherical valveelement.

9. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 8, in which said drain sealis located along the radially innermost portion of said thimble, and asecond seal means is provided along the radial outermost portion of saidthimble to effect a seal between said thimble and said socket, a commonretainer ring locating both said seals.

10. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 8, in which said drain sealpresents a plurality of annular beads for engaging said spherical valveelement and a channel to receive an anchor rib presented from saidthimble.

ll ll. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which adistribution ledge circumscribes said bowl portion, a source of flushfluid is provided within said seat section together with a means forpumping said flush fluid and a feed tube for communicating the flushfluid from said pump means to said distribution ledge, said feed tubebeing provided with a plurality of discharge orifices spaced along saiddistribution ledge.

12. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim ll, in which saiddistribution ledge progressively narrows to afford a spiralconfiguration and in which a first of said discharge orifices isdirected obliquely inwardly with respect to a tangent to thedistribution ledge at the point of discharge and in which a second ofsaid discharge orifices is spaced circumferentially of said firstdischarge orifice along said distribution ledge.

13. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 12, in which said seconddischarge orifice is spaced from said first discharge orifice atapproximately one-quarter the circumference of said bowl portion.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT o.13,851,339 DATED December 3, 1974 INVENTORl'S) :Vaughn D. Flinner;Richard W. Sprang; Dana D. Zody; and

Howard A. Fulton. lt rs certrfred that error appears In theabove-rdentrfred patent and that sard Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 56, "Vertical" should read --vortlcal--.

Column 4, line 18, "3, 801,99)" should read --3, 801,991".

Column 7, line 11, "when" should read -When--; line 43, "value" shouldread "valve"; line 67, "recess" should read "recesses".

Column 8, line 1, "in" should read --is--.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of May 1975 (SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officerand Trademarks

1. A portable toilet comprising; a seat section and a holding tanksection, said holding tank section having an inlet port, a flush valvehousing, means to fasten said flush valve housing to said inlet port, athimble formed on said valve housing and extending oppositely of saidholding tank section, a passageway extending through said valve housingand thimble, a valve element comprising a portion of a sphere mountedfor rotation within said thimble, means to rotate said valve elementselectively to open and close said passageway, said seat section havinga bowl portion that converges downwardly to a drain, a socketcircumscribing said drain, the thimble presented from said valve housingbeing insertably receivable within said socket and means to effect aseal between said thimble and said socket.
 2. A portable toilet, as setforth in claim 1, in which a handle is operatively connected to saidspherical valve element such that rotation of said handle rotates saidvalve element and means are provided to preclude inadvertent rotation ofsaid handle.
 3. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 2, in which arecess is provided in at least one separable section of said toilet,said handle being normally confined against rotation within said recessand means being provided to displace said handle outwardly of saidrecess for unrestricted rotation of said handle.
 4. A portable toilet,as set forth in claim 3, in which the means to displace said handlecomprise, a spindle secured to said spherical valve element, anextension shaft, means to effect a rotatable driving connection betweensaid spindle and extension shaft while allowing the spindle andextension shaft to move axially of each other, said handle beingfastened to said extension shaft.
 5. A portable toilet, as set forth inclaim 4, in which means are provided to bias said extension shaft inthat direction along said spindle which retains said handle within thesaid recess.
 6. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 1, in whichsaid spherical valve element has a diametric axis, a trunnion extendingoutwardly on one side of said valve element along said diametric axisand being rotatably received within said valve housing, means on saidvalve element diametrically opposed to said trunnion for selectiveconnection to the means for rotating said spherical valve element.
 7. Aportable toilet, as set forth in claim 6, in which a pair ofindentations are provided in said spherical valve element in proximityto said diametric Axis in order to facilitate removal and insertion ofthe valve element with respect to the valve housing.
 8. A portabletoilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which an annular drain seal isretained within said thimble for engaging said spherical valve element.9. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 8, in which said drain sealis located along the radially innermost portion of said thimble, and asecond seal means is provided along the radial outermost portion of saidthimble to effect a seal between said thimble and said socket, a commonretainer ring locating both said seals.
 10. A portable toilet, as setforth in claim 8, in which said drain seal presents a plurality ofannular beads for engaging said spherical valve element and a channel toreceive an anchor rib presented from said thimble.
 11. A portabletoilet, as set forth in claim 1, in which a distribution ledgecircumscribes said bowl portion, a source of flush fluid is providedwithin said seat section together with a means for pumping said flushfluid and a feed tube for communicating the flush fluid from said pumpmeans to said distribution ledge, said feed tube being provided with aplurality of discharge orifices spaced along said distribution ledge.12. A portable toilet, as set forth in claim 11, in which saiddistribution ledge progressively narrows to afford a spiralconfiguration and in which a first of said discharge orifices isdirected obliquely inwardly with respect to a tangent to thedistribution ledge at the point of discharge and in which a second ofsaid discharge orifices is spaced circumferentially of said firstdischarge orifice along said distribution ledge.
 13. A portable toilet,as set forth in claim 12, in which said second discharge orifice isspaced from said first discharge orifice at approximately one-quarterthe circumference of said bowl portion.